Litchfield Savanna Acoustic Data Collection - A2O Project 

This dataset contains audio files for Litchfield Savanna SuperSite. Litchfield Savanna SuperSite was established in 2013 in Litchfield National Park. Site selection was influenced by the history of long-term monitoring work undertaken in this area by the Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research (formerly Bushfires NT). The core 1 ha plot is dominated by Eucalyptus miniata and Eucalyptus tetrodonta. The site is representative of the dominant ecosystem type across northern Australia: frequently burnt tropical savanna in high rainfall areas. For additional site information, see Litchfield Savanna SuperSite In 2020 four acoustic recorders were set up to collect audio data continuously as part of the Australian Acoustic Observatory (A2O) project. Two recorders were placed in relatively wet habitats and two in relatively dry habitats. 

We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. Research collaborators at the Litchfield Savanna SuperSite include: Charles Darwin University, Maitec (Dr Stefan Maier), CSIRO (Dr Shaun Levick), OzFlux, TERN, Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Northern Territory Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security and the University of Western Australia. The SuperSite is managed by Charles Darwin University and The University of Western Australia. Australian Acoustic Observatory: A Network to Monitor Biodiversity Project Team, with funding from the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council (LE170100033) (2018). Brisbane, QLD: QUT [www.acousticobservatory.org]  

Long-term acoustic recordings are collected to characterise the acoustic sources in the ecosystem. Recordings can be used to estimate biodiversity, monitor temporal changes in the soundscape, compare the acoustic characteristics of different locations, and assess the effect of particular events such as bushfires and floods. 

Four acoustic sensors are set up to collect audio data continuosly as part of the A2O project. Sensors are Frontier Labs Solar BAR. Each sensor has a Primo EM172 microphone with an 80 dB signal-to-noise ratio, 14 dBA self-noise, -28 dB sensitivity, and a flat response (+2 dB between 80 Hz and 20 kHz). Sensors have a gain of 50 dB. They are mounted on 1.8 m star pickets and powered by solar panels. Data are recorded continuously. Recordings are made as single channel, two-hour long flac files. They have a sampling rate of 22,050 Hz and a depth of 16 bits. The four sensors are deployed in pairs. Each pair contains a wet and a dry sensor. Wet sensors are located within 50 m from the edge of a body of water. Dry sensors are located between 500 m and 5 km from their corresponding wet sensors. Wet–wet and dry–dry sensor points are at a distance between 500 m and 5 km.